I am glad to see that a lot of gorse have been removed. I wish they would go further and remove ALL gorse and replace them with native grass and shrubs.
I understand planting non-native grass for playing condition purposes, but I just don't see any reason why you need to transplant abnoxious weed like gorse (just so that you invoke Scotland). It is just out of place in Oregon, and there are many beautiful species of native plants that can serve the same strategic needs.
Curious as to what you consider native. As I'm sure you've already read above, the gorse wasn't brought in for the golf course.
As for what they'll replace it with, well European beach grass is also a non native species that is very damaging to the local dunes.
I think the gorse, while non native, has earned its place in Bandon. Its historic ties to the area, aesthetically pleasing nature and usefulness as a golf hazard should all be reason enough to keep it on the golf course IMO.
Wish they would have taken out the mini pits in the fairway or at least made the left side of the fairway a true option before they did this. The narrow tunnel approach is one of the most intimidating at the resort. Does this make the shot less intimidating for golfers - meaning how badly is a missed shot punished here without the course. I can't tell from the photos is that is just dirt and sand where the course used to be or if there is still some scrubby bad lie / lost ball kind of stuff going on there.
The pictures I've posted are of an obvious work in progress. In no way do they represent what it'll look like even a week from now, let alone a month. I'm guessing the ultimate thought if for both the left and right side to be beach grass covered dunes. They've got a lot of work to do, but in the end'll it'll be playable to a point. But I also think the intimidation factor will be cranked down several big notches.
And the "mini pits" make the tee shot. If your going right you have to pick the right line for yourself to get over them in the big wind. And the further right you are the tougher the second shot is, so there is a reward for carrying the humps. And there is plenty of room left for a tee ball. It has to be hit well and can't be hooking, but left is good.
While the hole with the gorse much closer to the fairway was much more visually intimidating, the hole is still quite difficult with a very narrow approach. Gorse off the fairway means a lost ball most of the time, while sandy scruff means you can find your ball, try to play it, and maybe make a bogey or much worse. Keep in mind that in the summer, when most folks play Bandon, you will be hitting a medium to long iron into the wind to a narrow green, especially when the pin is back.
Having played the hole a bunch of times, I do not think removing some gorse lessens the quality of the hole.
I agree with most of this, most of the time. But you should be faced with some shots that are discomforting a couple of times a round. And 5 as it stood a couple of weeks ago was very discomforting. If you thought trying to pipe a hybrid or fairway wood through the shoot into a headwind on 5 was intimidating and risky, then you could have laid up. And conversely if you did go for it and pulled it off the level of satisfaction for most of us was pretty high. I think the changes will alter that moment in the round negatively.
I just want to say that I hate that hole.
Thanks.
Jed
Thanks for your thoughts Jed.